Access to quality formal and non-formal education
When we think of education, we often think of schools, colleges or universities. It’s time to think outside the box!
Learning can take place in many different settings and forms. Alongside mainstream systems of education and training, youth organisations play a significant role in creating environments where young people can learn and grow as individuals.
This kind of ‘non-formal’ education allows young people to learn from those around them and develop skills - from personal and social, to professional. Youth organisations put young people at the centre of their learning and have been shown to various forms of and contribute to openness, civic engagement and intercultural learning.
What needs to happen?
- Governments must ensure free and equal access to quality education, lifelong and life-wide learning opportunities for all.
- Governments, education and youth work providers, and other stakeholders must ensure everyone has equal access to quality citizenship education - including digital citizenship, global citizenship, and sustainable development education.
- Youth organisations must be recognised as providers of quality education and the skills and competencies gained as a result of youth work, volunteering and non–formal education must be fully validated.
Related news and publications
Joint statement: European Commission must guarantee a meaningful role for civil society in ‘RebuildUkraine’
Research on volunteer-based youth work
The European Youth Forum, as a platform for more than 100 youth organisations, predominantly relies on volunteer-based youth work. To help understand and recognise the value of volunteer-based youth work, we conducted this research with nearly half of our member organisations.
Advocacy Handbook
In this handbook you will find the keys to engage in meaningful advocacy action: core concepts you need to master, practical frameworks you can follow to plan your actions, do's and don'ts to avoid the most common mistakes, and inspiring examples from the NGO sector.